Middle Grade Review: It's All or Nothing, Vale

 

Vale used to be a champion fence; she might have been on her way to the Olympics. But a bike crash ruined her leg. Not she's desperately trying to make a comeback. But things aren't working out. Most days her leg really hurts. Some days she can push past the pain. She's not sure who she is without fencing. Will her life ever be the same again?

My Thoughts: Vale is working through the emotions of her accident; most importantly grief and anger. She wishes that life hadn't changed. I wanted to wrap her up in a hug as she struggled through her emotions. She worried about friendships, about the word disabled, and about family dramas. This novel in verse worked through my emotions; it was a powerful read.

Cover Thoughts: Powerful

Source: My Library

Why I Read this Book: The summary peaked my interest

Library Recommendation: A really great book for your school and public library 

Picture Book Wednesday: You are Not Sleepy

After the story is over, the pig is not sleepy. But how will the pig get to sleep?

I'm a fan of Mark Teague. This is in a similar vein of If You Give a Mouse....

With not many words, this is a great book for storytime. 

Highly recommended for your school and public library

* book sent for review

Picture Book Review: Books about Pets

Just a few picture books about pets:

Willow was born on a farm. Jill Biden visited for the farm and saw the kitten. Willow went to live at the White House.  

This was such a fun book - about Willow and how she loved to explore the White House. 

Staceypants lives in a yellow house - where not my cat keeps coming around. Staceypants doesn't have time for pets. But they do everything together.

This is such a cute book - but there is a scary moment when the cat disappears. Besides that moment, there are lots of moments for cat lovers. I love how they did yoga together. 

Ruffles doesn't like to share, can the kittens change his mind?

This is a cute story with both kitten and dogs. Ruffles has a series of books. 

Do you have a favorite book about pets?

Here's a favorite pet picture:

Children's Graphic Novel Review: Operation Cover-up

* First in a new series *

Both Nick and Sid are starting a new school today - but they have different classrooms. Both of them gets mislabeled - Nick as a class clown and Sid as a brainiac. Neither of them was to disappoint their new friends. When they learn the truth about each other, they decide to team up and help the other. Will their new friends discover the truth about them?

My Thoughts: I really enjoyed this friendship graphic novel. Nick and Sid both had a hard time showing people their true shelves. But I loved how they came together to help each other and eventually became friends. I love how they inspired others to embrace their true shelves too. What a great message. I'm so looking forward to the next graphic novel in this series. 

Cover Thoughts: Cute

Source: My Library

Library Recommendation: A great graphic novel for your school and public library's collection

Adult Romance Review: The Lodge

 

Alix is ghost-writing a memoir for a famous member of a boy band. 

Sebastian was in one of the biggest boy bands. He was the Golden Boy. But he clashed with another band member - the Bad Boy (Jett). They hated each other. Everything broke down after Jett disappeared. It's the biggest mystery in musical history.

Since Alix's sister moved in with her, she's been having a hard time writing. Sebastian puts her up in a ski resort in Vermont. The book starts writing itself - thanks to all the voice recordings he's given her. As the secrets start coming out, Alix has questions. But it's not easy to get a hold of Sebastian. So, Alix starting having a little fun on her writing retreat - where she meets a ski instructor named Tyler who seems a little too good to be true...

My Thoughts: This was such a fun read; I didn't want to put it down. I loved how the chapters were interspersed with interviews and things about the band. I loved reading about the band's secrets. I loved the description of food and drinks. I loved the folks at the resort - they seemed really nice. I confess this book made me want to drink hot chocolate. I found the ghost-writing moments to be fascinating. The ending was a little rushed. 

Cover Thoughts: Cute

Source: My Library

Learned about: I heard about this book on social media - it sounded fun.

Library Recommendation: Highly recommended for your romance collection. 

Picture Book Review: Bruce Saves the Planet

Yesterday was Earth Day, here's a fun book:

When Bruce wants some peace and quiet, he heads to the stream to fish. But something's different. Bruce lands in the thick of things.

My Thoughts: I adore the Bruce books - he's so grumpy yet so loveable. I love how he saves the day without meaning too. The geese and the mice push him into things - like this. He's a good sport about it all. This book shows the process of how things change, even if it does happen much faster in the book than in real life. 

There is an author's note in the back about how readers can help the environment, and it shares some endangered animals.  

Top Ten Tuesday: Books that Surprised Me

 This week's topic is all about books that surprised the reader. I'm changing it to authors, because these authors are great at surprising plot twists. 

The Biggest:

Sarah J Maas

Frieda McFadden

Very Big:

Ally Carter

Jennifer Lynn Barnes

Rebecca Yarros

James Ponti

Stuart Gibbs

Lisa McMann

Mary Higgins Clark

Hafsah Faizal

Any of these authors surprise you with their many plot twists?

Middle Grade Review: Speak Up Santiago

First in a new graphic novel series

Santiago is spending the summer with his grandmother. Everyone on that side of the family speaks Spanish, but he's just learning. His grandmother doesn't speak English that well. He's nervous that they will have trouble communicating. 

Santiago loves playing soccer and found a group of friends. Together, they hope to enter a tournament at the end of the month. But they all speak Spanish too. 

Santiago does pretty well for most of the summer, but he worries about being enough. When he overhears people talking about him and his language barrier, he shuts down. Will it cost him his happiness over the summer?

My Thoughts: I really loved this graphic novel. I love how Santiago was nervous in the beginning, but he found his footing. I loved the moments between him and his grandmother. This graphic novel had a lot of Spanish and English together. It's not an entire bilingual graphic novel, but it's close. I felt bad for Santiago and wanted to wrap in him up in a hug when things went sideways for him. But I did like how everything turned out. I also love that this series is continuing with one of the friends as the main character next. I can't wait to read what happens. 

Cover Thoughts: Cute

Source: My Library

Library Recommendation: Highly Recommended for your school and public library

Nonfiction Review: Cookies from around the World

 

I'm such a fan of desserts, so this book was fascinating to me. It showcased the first recorded desserts in Ancient Egypt and then it talked about how desserts evolved over time. Lots of flavors were shared here - from lots of different countries. 

Board Books: Food

Just a few board books about food.

This fun book describes different Jewish foods and their shapes. 

One of those books I love with food puns. This one has texture all over the pages, making it fun to pour over. This is my new favorite board book! 

A pun-filled book about love between a parents and a child - all about baking. This is a new favorite read.

Picture Book Review: My Lost Freedom

 

This might be a hard book for younger readers, but it's an important one. 

This is the story of George Takei and his time at the internment camps.

There's a lot to unpack. While this is terrible to read about - it's necessary to understand our past. There's some joy here as people tried to make the best of a terrible situation. It ends with hope.

There are author photos in the back from before the war, at the internment camp, and after the war. 

This book should be in every library. 

Booklist: Hockey

 

Lately, I've been reading hockey books. I thought I would create a booklist

Books Included:

It's a Love/Skate Relationship

Being Sloan Jacobs

Icebreaker

Michigan vs. the Boys

Off the Ice

A Cold Day in the Sun

Bea Mullins Takes a Shot

On Thin Ice (currently checked out from the library)

* If you love the figure skating books, here's a list for you

Picture Book Review: I Love My Body Because

This is a body positive book about all the things a body can do - different body types and different ethnicities.

To be honest, we need more of these books because females are bombarded with messages about their bodies. Our bodies are never good enough. These messages are so powerful that children are now hating their bodies too. Hopefully with these types of books, we can build upon positive ideals of bodies. There is an author's note that also shares this sentiment. 

Top Ten Tuesday: Next Up

 I'm changing up this week's topic. I'm showcasing my most likely next 10 books to read. 

Have you read of these?

Middle Grade Review: Bea Mullins Takes a Shot

 

Bea Mullins had trouble with basketball. When gym is canceled, Bea needs to figure out a sports credit. She reluctantly joins the hockey team, secretly hoping they won't have enough girls to make the team. When the team start practicing, Bea isn't great at skating. She's nervous that she will make a fool of herself.

The first game doesn't go well; they're forced to play the best team in the league. Bea skates away from the puck, rather than embarrass herself further. She has a hard time passing the puck. Unfortunately, one of her classmates films their games. They create a video compellation of all their mistakes. Bea is so embarrassed, but the other girls lean into the videos, even creating some of their own. 

Gabi, a team member, starts helping Bea with her hockey skills. The hockey team doesn't have much funding, so they have to fundraise. Bea and her best friend Celia brainstorm ideas to help earn some cash. Could she find herself happy being on the hockey team?

My Thoughts: I loved this book; it was five-star read. I love girls sports books. This book was such a good read with all the drama: sports, friendship, and a little bit of romance. Bea's family were fun and supportive. I loved her Dad, and the hockey moments. I felt bad for Bea and how she struggled sharing her feelings. I understood her lack of enthusiasm for being on camera making a fool out of herself. I loved the romance between Bea and Gabi. This is Emily Deibert's debut novel and it was amazing. I can't wait to see what she writes next! 

Cover Thoughts: Perfect

 Source: My Library

Library Recommendation: A must have book for your school or public library.

Women's Biographies

 Just a few biographies that are new to the library

I didn't know the Olivia Rodrigo was a Disney star. I heard her music - her first album - and became a fan. I liked learning more about her. 

I know of Sadie Sink from All Too Well - I enjoyed reading about how she got her start. I love that she played a young Queen Elizabeth on the stage. 

To be honest, I knew most of the information here. But I did not know about the jobs in between University and becoming royal. This short book is very informative and has lots of great pictures.

I really enjoyed watching Caitlin Clark's first WNBA season, so I was happy to read a biography. I loved reading about all her stats of awesomeness. I can't wait to see what other records she breaks.

All of four of these book showcase talented women. I'm always on the lookout for a good biography. 

Color Your World Book: Paint with Ploof

 

Ploof wants to paint a rainbow, but they need help.

This is not a board book, but it looks like one and it's sized like one. This interactive book is perfect for this year's summer reading theme.  It will be a great read-aloud.

Nonfiction Review: A Meerkat Diary

 

Suzi Eszterhas shares her journey as a photographer of wildlife. She's sharing photos and moments of her day. 

There's a lot of information here and amazing photographs. I love how Suzi and her team followed one family and watched the pups. I learned how they spend their day - eating and looking for food and playing. I love how Suzi and her team gave the pups nicknames. The pictures are so cute! There were some moments of danger and some moments of aww. 

If you like animals, this is on you won't want to miss. 

Library Recommendation: A must have book for your public and school library 

Happy National Library Week!

Today is take action for libraries day.

So, I'm here to ask you:

When was the last time you visited your library? Checked out an item? Attended a program?

Libraries have SO MUCH to offer everyone!

Here's a little bit about my library usage.

I'm the best and worst library patron.

Currently I have:

102 books checked out (several of these are for storytime and library programs)

15 books on hold 

Both of these are kind of average. I check out a lot of books. 

While I read a lot of books, I don't always get to read everything I check out. 

Try to visit your library soon! It really does help.